What happened on Anisha’s first day in Vienna? Follow her footsteps here:

After an exhilarating first night alone in Vienna, spent admiring illuminated sights on my own little walking tour, I feel much more confident. In 3 days, you can see everything, with some careful planning and map-reading. I’ve even included pit-stops at virtually every traditional coffee house in the city! Well, I am visiting Vienna to eat and drink my way through.

What really makes my journey super-special are the little gems I discover and learn, through sheer curiosity and effort. Invaluable insider information to get the best vantage view points, notice elements that’ll guarantee you better appreciate a sight and tips to be that little bit different. Here are my top tips for Day 1 in Vienna:

1.HOTEL IMPERIAL & CAFÉ IMPERIAL
As a female travelling alone, security is of paramount consideration. This, in addition to being a traditionalist at heart, means I favour intimate classic luxury hotels. The luxury part…well, any other type just won’t do! Luckily, Vienna poses difficult decision-making through its extent of offerings in this category, boasting some of the grandest historic hotels. The Hotel Bristol, Sacher and Imperial are renowned as the ‘three grandes dames’.

With an exclusive Butler service, who’ll even accompany guests on day trips should they require, and a guest-list of royalty & dignitaries taking up an entire wall in the historic Hall of Fame, Hotel Imperial is my choice. I like the fact that it’s grand yet boutique. And my suite is perfect for space, seclusion and privacy. Occupying its own block, the Hotel is at the forefront of security, which goes hand in hand with its timeless tradition of hosting the Kings & Queens of most world countries, including Queen Elizabeth II, Muammar Gaddafi and Bill Clinton as well as Rock-star legends such as Billy Joel, Prince and Rod Stewart. The traditional concierge service is groomed, polished and very well-informed, meaning I need not look far for interesting nuggets of history, advice or tickets to sell-out events. It’s also a very central base to explore the beautiful city, just a minute’s walk form the legendary Staatsoper Opera Theatre.

CAFÉ IMPERIAL:
Influential arts icons are likely to be seen penning music, songs and novels in the legendary ‘Café Imperial,’ whilst sipping a Melange coffee and delighting in the infamous Imperial Torte, of milk chocolate, wafer, almond pastry, marzipan and cacao cream! As I do, just that, I bump into Riccardo Muti, Music Director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

  

2. KARLSKIRCHE or ST CHARLES’ CHURCH
A dominant landmark south of the Ringstrasse, so much so that it’s one of the first buildings I gravitate towards. Take the glass elevator to drift up into its domes, where one final push is required up narrow disconcerting steps to dizzying heights; not only for the view, but for the wide dome-shaped ceiling emblazoned in frescoes of heaven, angels and cherubs. In a 3-D real-life effect, it’s hard to keep your balance as your neck cricks upwards in awe at the soft pastel palette of heavenly paintings. The history of this Church is as heart-warming as its interiors and frescoes.

Emperor Charles VI vowed to build a Church dedicated to his namesake if the plague that hit Vienna in 1713, would leave. His namesake, St Charles Borromeo, was a bishop in 16^th century Italy, who ministered to Milanese plague victims and became renowned for it. The plague did leave Vienna. So the Emperor ordered construction using the Baroque master Johann Bernard Fischer von Erlach.

Cafe Schwarzenberg
A very typically vintage-looking coffee house with chandeliers and wood. I treat myself to the house Apple Strudel and ‘Alte Heisse Schokolade’. The hot chocolate comes with cinnamon, nutmeg & Chantilly cream; the warm Strudel filled with nuts, raisins, cinnamon and custard! It’s so warming on a cold winter’s day, truly the perfect pit-stop to refuel between sights. By evening it turns into a Concert Coffee House. Head here by 7pm to be serenaded by a piano and singer or classical quartet; a soothing way to end a busy day.

 

3. STEPHANSDOM or ST STEPHEN’S CATHEDRAL
Arguably the most iconic and visible building in Vienna, seen from right across the city. Its North & South Towers dominate the skyline, always striking, against icy blue skies by day or an inky black night sky.

Anticipation has been building to explore this. As I approach it, it’s impossible not to snap away furiously with the camera. Every angle tells a new story. Inside, beware the flood of tourists! It can be difficult to find a peaceful spot from which to appreciate the marvel. I take the lift to the North Tower, to a view en pleine air. TIP TO GIRLS: At this height on a blustery day, avoid Marilyn Monroe moments by dressing appropriately!

The view takes in the colourful and ornately patterned roof of the Cathedral and far beyond. Peer down the side of the Cathedral – the further down I look, the more impressive the entire Romanesque façade of the cathedral in intricate detailed carvings. It’s astonishing, the forethought that would have gone into the creation in the 11^th Century.

Insider tip: Huge tip here if, like me, you’re not a fan of crowded tourist spots…Do not miss the Domschatz Treasury exhibition. The entrance is by the exit and very easy to miss. Most flocks of tourists walk straight past it. I pay only 4E to a virtually tourist-free vantage point with the most extraordinary view along the entire Cathedral from a height, next to the impressive Organ pipes. It’s as though I’ve been let in on a secret up here, as hordes of crowds amass below. From up here, it’s easier to appreciate the impressive design of the ceiling arches and sense of magnitude of 18 altars inside the main atrium.

  

Café Frauenhuber
Bordering Stephensplatz, this is Vienna’s oldest coffee house, since 1824… and stepping inside feels it! It is extremely traditional with narrow cabins carved into the walls and cosy seating areas. The café has chronicled the history of the building and traced it back to being a bath house in the 1300s. Later it became a barber-surgeon offering an entire gamut from shaving & haircuts to massages and surgical procedures! In the 1700s, most impressively, Mozart and Beethoven entertained Society here, with now infamous performances.

I order a classic hot chocolate ‘mit Schlagobers’ – with cream, whilst basking in the history of my surroundings.

 

4.  NASCHMARKT
Foodie paradise: Eat your way around the globe in this incredibly fresh and flavoursome market where everything can be found. The market occupies a central kilometre of road and is an endless mecca of delectable delicacies. It’s come a long way since starting life selling milk bottles in the 16^th Century.

INSIDER TIP: If you love Lebanese / Middle Eastern / North African cuisine, eat a ‘Dr Falafel’ mezze platter or Falafel wrap with a polystyrene cup of Gluhwein steaming against the bitter cold frosty air. Over a chat with the owner, I learn that he’s from Turkey but has lived in Vienna for more than a decade.

Insider tip for foodies – Don’t let greed get the better of you immediately. The market is huge and the deeper I venture, the more mouth-watering the food becomes. So be patient, hold your hunger and find bits of everything you fancy for a truly satisfying experience. Needless to say, I do the opposite with eyes bigger than my stomach, to then be stuck exploring the rest wishing I hadn’t been so greedy so early on! Coffee shops and stalls galore here so need to look any firther. But should you wish…

Café Museum is located directly opposite Nachmarkt on Karlsplatz. With beginnings in 1899 and original interior designed by the infamous Adolf Loos, this café has served as a meeting point for painters, writers and composers such as Gustav Klimt, Karl Kraus and Alben Berg. It’s quite open-plan so don’t expect cosy boudoirs but it is steeped in history. Ideal for an Espresso after indulging in Naschmarkt.

   

5. ‘STAATSOPER’ or THE STATE OPERA
A gloriously grand building that virtually occupies its own neighbourhood in Vienna. I can’t help but stop and stare every time I walk by. Perhaps it’s better to just sit across the road and gaze at it for half an hour. By day or lit up by night, the Neo-Renaissance style mid-19^th century colossus is attention-grabbing for all the right reasons.

INSIDER TIP: If, like me, you’re a regular at theatres (just a fortnight prior I attended Swan Lake, by the Chinese National Ballet, in Geneva, Switzerland) or simply don’t want to pay a small fortune, you can get in for cheap. Standing ‘seats’ sell for as little as 3E which is fantastic is you’ve little time in Vienna and just want to catch the first hour of a performance and admire the interiors. Or you can actually grab a last-minute seat. Queue up outside the ticket office first thing on the day before the performance to pick up bargain seats from 30E!

 

Café Sacher
Café Sacher is a meeting point for society in Austria today. If you’re curious about the legendary Sacher Torte (cake) made within the Sacher’s own bakery, this is the place to try it. I, however, decide to try Hotel Sacher in a slightly different light…by night at the bar. (Read final paragraph)

5. BELVEDERE PALACE
This 17^th Century historic Palace complex is split into a Lower and Upper Palace, both baroque in style. It served as Prince Eugene of Savoy’s summer residence. I find the Upper palace most appealing. Housing a beautiful collection of classic and modern Austrian art dating back to the Middle Ages, works by Gustav Klimt are currently a major attraction. It’s the largest of his collections in the world. You’ll know when you get to the highlight pieces, The Kiss and Judith, as there are swarms of people around catching a glimpse. I have to wait patiently to gain a decent view to appreciate these highlights. The Upper Palace also features a prominent works by the French Impressionists, who left an inimitable mark on art history.

Lower Belvedere houses Prince Eugene’s living quarters and staterooms with the Hall of Grotesques, Marble Gallery and Golden Room.  These are very popular too and can become crowded.

Insider Tip: In both palaces, it’s easy to get caught up in the artwork. But do not forget to look up at the ceilings. The frescoes and interiors of the stately rooms are feats of art in themselves and help me appreciate the Palace from a different perspective. The pretty views from the Upper Palace windows across the gardens, sculptures and fountains deserve some admiration.

 

6. BURGTHEATER
This is the National Theatre of Austria: Tour the inside to marvel at the beauty and lavishness of the interiors. The frescoes, chandeliers and lighting are sumptuously lavish. The interior is an artwork gem and is very fitting for some of the best theatrical performances in the city.

INSIDER TIP: 1. If you wander in alone, don’t assume any part is off limits. Large heavy doors seem closed at first. But as I try, each one opens and I find my way into the heart of the theatre, with a view form the wings. It’s empty when I visit which makes the grandness seem even more overwhelming.  2. Take a peek outside through the large bay windows in the corridors. They showcase picture-postcard views of Rathaus (the City Hall building) and Rathauspark.

From here, ‘Rathaus’ is across the park, a 2 minute walk away. It is another landmark building. But I appreciate it better by night. (See post: ONE NIGHT IN VIENNA)

Café Landtmann
In a prime location at the foot of the Burgtheater lies this renowned coffee house. From the outside, it looks modern with a conservatory extension overlooking the Burg Theatre and Rathaus and park.

But step inside, to enter another era in its long cabin-style original coffee house. Of course, you’ll have to walk right past the patisserie counter, which catches me out every time! I come here three times in total during my Vienna trip and it becomes a firm favourite. The brunch and lunch menus are fantastic with fresh seasonal offerings. I opt for the ‘Salmon variation’ with Crayfish. But the highlight for me is the Landtmann ‘Maria Theresia’ coffee.

Fresh double espresso with orange liqueur, topped with Chantilly cream and orange zest shavings. This coffee is heaven in a tall glass. I sit here admiring the misty Rathauspark with old street lighting, watching the Burg Theatre light up as it gets dark and watching the world pass by.

7. CHURCH OF THE MINORITES
This is my favourite Church in Vienna. It’s spectacular in its simplicity; a 14^th century French Gothic style building in the Altstadt. Compared to the overt and highly decorated Baroque and Gothic city Churches, this simplicity is stand-out. I visit on a public holiday when it’s completely empty.

Inside, my attention flits to a replica of The Last Supper. It’s a vivid mosaic depiction created by a Roman artist in the early 1800s.

INSIDER TIPS: 2 fantastic (if I do says so, myself) tips here: 1. As you enter the church, turn to face the back. There’s a large mosaic stained-glass window at the top. As an art-form, the colours and paintings are exquisite.

2. Walk to the back of the Church past the High Altar. To its left, you’ll notice a small wooden door. It may appear closed but push it open. This is the Chapel. It will, likely, be empty. If it is, you’re in luck. Now look up at the breath-taking tall stained glass window here. The chapel is a gem; perfectly brilliant and radiant.

As the late afternoon spectrum of colourful light floods in through the window, I find it incredibly peaceful and moving.  I stay a while, taking it all in.

Café Hawelka
Dating back to 1939, this coffee house was as legendary for its coffee as it was for its owners. Leopold and Josefine Hawelka lived vicariously through the café. Again, a meeting spot for writers, critics and artists, the society heights of the café were reached in the 60s and 70s. Mr Hawelka could be seen on summer days sitting at the entrance greeting guests until recently. The couple were the life and soul of Cafe Hawelka.  Josefine passed away in 2005 and Leopold in 2011.

Here, I order a Melange coffee. Akin to a Cappuccino, it’s made with milder coffee and uses milk. This is a coffee I get quite used to, given the similarities to coffees I drink at home.  If you visit during the day, though, fully expect to wait for a table. Around lunchtime onwards the queue backs out of the door and remains that way until late night.

 

 8. SACHER HOTEL BLAUES BAR
For the most luxurious way to end the day, I head straight to the most fashionable and society-filled spot in town. The infamous Sacher hotel’s ‘Blaues Bar’ or Blue bar is the place to be seen. Intimate, luxuriant and opulent; I sip on a few glasses of champagne and order the renowned Sacher Torte. The chocolate beauty, with a thin layer of Apricot Jam according to a recipe dating back to the 1830s, is still made at Sacher’s own bakery and makes the perfect accompaniment to French vintage Champagne!

Next: Vienna’s main sights in the Hofburg Palace complex and some real traditional Viennese coffee shops highlights! Also the back streets of Vienna: full of character, curios and contradictions…

 

Tags: Cities, Culture, Food & Wine

My name is Anna-Theresa Brettermeier, I am 19 years old and I attend the tourism college in Bad Hofgastein. This summer I got to spend two months in London doing an internship at the Austrian National Tourist Office.  London is an exciting city with lots of great places to visit, but it is very different from my small village Saalbach Hinterglemm in Austria. My parents own the Theresia Gartenhotel ****^Superior and the attached Aparthotel**** Johann.  Since I was a small girl I have loved welcoming guests to our family-run hotel, and it has always been my dream – as the fourth generation – to continue with our tradition and take over the hotel.

Even though I have enjoyed my time in London, the past two months have also made me realise just how beautiful my home really is.  Unique landscape surrounds the valley all year round, and the mountains literally make you feel free. In summer, Saalbach Hinterglemm offers a wide choice of hiking trails across the grassy hills of the Pinzgau, as well as lots of fantastic mountainbike paths. For those who like a challenge and are in good physical condition, I highly recommend the Seven Summits Tour.

My mum especially loves to show our guests the local treasures of the region. The Sinnlehenalm in Leogang is one of those places. After a 30 minute hike, the guests can look forward to a guided tour of the Organic Dairy Farm.  Mr. Scheiber explains how the cheese is produced fresh everyday, thanks to his 18 cows. Afterwards, the guest can of course sample the delicious goods. On the way back to the hotel there is a stop at the traditional weekly market in Saalfelden. When I visit this market, the first thing I do is to eat the freshly made Bladln mit Sauerkraut. This is one of the favourite Austrian recipes, made out of pastry filled with bacon and Sauerkraut.

Someone else to visit when you are here is the 76 year old bee keeper Sepp Grünwald, who lives at the end of the Glemm Valley. Sepp will show you his bees and tell you about the organic honey they produce. As you might have guessed, organic food is really important for my family and our hotel. My mum places great value on high quality food, and because of that we provide organic cuisine for our guests every day. We get fresh vegetables from the organic farm Stechausbauer several times a week, which is 30 km away.

Not to forget winter in Saalbach Hinterglemm, when the whole valley is covered in white snow. In winter, I always get up very early in the morning, put on my snowboard gear and start my day with a healthy breakfast. At 9 a.m, my day tour on my board starts at the lift opposite our hotel. My favourite hut, where I always have lunch, is the Hintermais Alm, and it was here that my grandmother born. If you enjoy traditional Austrian food like cheese dumplings with butter and chives, then you will love it there. Who knows, maybe I will see you on a hiking or skiing tour in Austria soon?!

Tags: Food & Wine, Nature, Outdoors, Ski & Snowbard, Summer, Tradition, Winter

by Mervyn Jones

 

Austria has much to offer the visitor and is a delight to visit at any time of the year, use of the extensive rail network being an ideal mode of travel to get around this varied and interesting country.

 

Those whose passion is winter know Austria’s attractions only too well. It is a mountainous country with over two-thirds of its land mass being above an altitude of 500 m (1,640 ft). Given such altitudes it is not surprising that snow is the predominant feature from November to late March, making Austria arguably the ski- and snow-boarding capital of Europe. The Austrian authorities are well used to coping with the inconveniences of the inclement weather, having on hand some of the latest and best snow-clearing equipment in the world. The operation of tried and tested contingency plans efficiently protect the country’s transport infrastructure, by keeping the roads, railways and airports open with the minimum of interruption. There is no fear of being trapped in Austria; that is, unless one wants to be!

 

But there is much more to Austria than just its winter activities. Summer offers different landscapes, beginning with the arrival of Spring as hosts of alpine blooms burst through the melting snows after their long winter sleep. As the weather gets warmer, so the magnificence of another incarnation of the outstanding scenery grows. Lush green meadows dotted with charming rustic villages give way to a natural beauty set in a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. It was no accident, therefore, that areas around the city of Salzburg and the nearby lake district of Salzkammergut were used in the 1965 filming of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical The Sound of Music.

 

Staying with this theme, Austria is synonymous with all types of music. Vienna, of course, is a jewel in this musical crown. It was here under the patronage of the Hapsburgs that the city became centre of classical music, attracting the likes of Mozart, Strauss and Beethoven. That musical tradition continues to this day, especially so on New Year’s Day when the morning concert in the Golden Hall of the Wien Musikverein is performed not only for the pleasure of the Viennese but, through the medium of television, for audiences throughout the world.

 

Apart from its capital Vienna, Austria has many great cities all distinctively different in their character. Innsbruck which hosted the first Winter Youth Olympics at the beginning of 2012; Salzburg the birthplace of Mozart and since 1997 a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Klagenfurt which boasts Europe’s largest non-sea beach at Wörthersee; Graz, the second largest city after Vienna, with as many as six universities; Linz spanning both sides of the Danube; Eisenstadt where Joseph Haydn lived much of his life and is buried; and finally Bregenz on the eastern shores of Lake Constance where each summer the Bregenzer Festspiele performing arts festival takes place on a floating stage.

 

So how does the visitor take advantage of the many opportunities that this great country offers? There are over 6,000 km (3,750 miles) of railway routes running the length and breadth of Austria. Österreichische Bundesbahnen, ÖBB for short (Austrian Federal Railways), operate a modern fleet of trains offering comfortable, reliable and fast services on a network of which nearly sixty per cent is electrified. The four main routes, all running to and from Vienna, are the Nordbahn to the Czech border, the Ostbahn towards Hungary, the Südbahn to Graz and the Slovenian border and the Westbahn, by far the longest continuous rail route in Austria, which travels west to Bregenz.

 

Hopefully this article has provided the reader with just a taste of the many attractive places to visit in Austria, the railways playing an important role both for access and enjoyment. For those who want to know more, Mervyn Jones has written The Essential Guide to Austrian Railways and Tramways published by The Oakwood Press. You can also get in touch with Mervyn directly via his website www.rail-guides.eu.

 

Genießen Sie Österreich! – Enjoy Austria!

Rob Rees is on a tour through Austria. Discover with him Austria’s hidden gems. This time he is skiing in Ski Amadé.  

“Day 6 of the Austrian Ski Tour began with the retrieval of the trusty BMW from an Alpendorf hillside where we had had to abandon it three evenings before with the endless snow and mammouth drive from Bregenzerwald. We were sad to leave the Salzburger Sportwelt, all of its villages covered by the extensive Ski Amadé pass. Tree skiing is always ‘good for the soul’ and there were still plenty of nearby ski areas left to explore – Grossarl, Gasteinertal, Hochkoenig, Kleinarl and Zauchensee. With light overnight snow, the pistes were never going to be in better condition. 

We somewhat reluctantly accepted that we’re just going to have to put those resorts on the list for next winter! That’s the beauty of Austrian skiing. There are so many resorts in so many different parts of Austria; some suitable for a day, some perfect for a long weekend and some to keep you busy all week. But what Austria offers over and above any other country is a consistently good welcome, excellent service, classy family-run hotels, huts that serve decent food in beautiful surroundings and a lift and snowmaking infrastructure that has been upgraded and rivals anywhere these days.

Half-board in an Austria hotel is significantly better value than in some other countries, no-one teaches skiing better than the Austrians and skiing is so much more than just bashing the miles out on bland motorway pistes above the treeline in sterile, purpose-built ski sprawls.

Enough of my evangelism…

We dropped onto the Bischofshofen motorway and took the A10 to Radstadt, leaving Salzburgerland and on into the fourth Austrian Bundesland of the trip, Steiermark or Styria. The heavy snow returned and by the time we’d managed the short drive to Schladming-Dachstein, the wind had picked up and the visibility had closed in for the day. We gently coaxed the car up to the village of Rohrmoos, scattered about a mile above Schladming set on its own plateau (Alm, Moos – whatever you want to call it!). We gratefully decamped to the new arx-genusshotel, a stylish designer hotel run with considerable skill by the Veith family. Comfortable rooms, a good kitchen and a simple modern spa area.

Rohrmoos is ski convenient, if a little quiet, and set on the lower slopes of the Hochwurzen. Schladming’s two home mountains, Planai (1,894m) and Hochwurzen (1,850m), are sandwiched between Reiteralm (1,960m) and Hauser Kaibling (2,015m), creating a four-mountain, interlinked skier’s paradise, also covered by the Ski Amade pass. Most of the slopes are northfacing so it can be a bit chilly but the snow stays good and you’re well protected by mainly tree lined runs.

The Austrian ski team train on the Reiteralm and it was here Hermann Maier ‘racetuned’ in secret, before announcing his miraculous comeback in 2003, after his near leg amputation in a motorcycle accident (Read the brilliant book ‘Race of my Life’). Schladming offers some of the longest uninterrupted runs in Europe, like the 4.6km FIS run and the endless 7.7km Hochwurzen Valley run right by the hotel.

We skied windswept Planai rather begrudgingly in snow on the Saturday, nipping into the many mountain restaurants to thaw out. Our patience was eventually rewarded with blue skies on Sunday and ‘the day of days’ on the Reiteralm, albeit at

-12 degrees. Nothing that plenty of layers, fast skiing and several more hut stops could not fix. We consumed a tremendous Tiroler Groestl, freshly prepared, at the Eiskarhuette on the way down from Reiteralm on red 1! The views over to the Dachstein were just ‘to die for’.

Monday brought unbelievable piste conditions on Planai, warmer temperatures and very few skiers! However, we spent most of the day on Hauser Kaibling, our favourite of the four Schladming mountains, as well as being the highest. It has bags of new lift investment, a brilliant black FIS run 1a to the base gondola in Haus and just so many pistes for ‘ripping it’. We tried the Stoecklhuette hut for a traditional Styrian Kasknoch’n, made with some mighty fine regional cheese. The fresh local Schladminger Beer is worth some study too!

Schladming is an absolute ‘must ski’ resort in any keen skier’s lifetime. It is little surprise that it has been selected to host the 2013 World Ski Championships next February. We had to drag ourselves from the slopes at the end of the ski day.”

Rob’s skisafari … to be continued …

Last week it was once again time for the Austrian National Tourist Office to bring the corporate jackets out from the back of the wardrobe, pile the latest brochures and promotional material into the back of a truck, and assemble the finest Austrian partners and sponsors for the annual World Travel Market at ExCel London. The leading global event for the travel industry, this 4-day event is a must for all international tourist boards to present their destination. Having missed out on the previous year (no, I didn’t do a runner following several comments on what a long week it would be, I had generally already booked the holiday!), I was not sure what to expect from this much talked about event.

First and foremost it was the dimensions that surprised me, from the crowds of people pushing their way down the platform at the DLR stop, to the sheer size of the Austria stand which encompassed a main desk and platforms for 28 partners, encircling a Viennese-style café. And then there was the buzz, the galore of decorated stands from all over the world, and the chance to hold an Abu Dhabi falcon followed by a bite-size Thai delicacy. All of this put into perspective the breadth of the industry that we work in and the enthusiasm those involved can evoke.

All the more wonderful to have a bustling Austria stand and that pick-me-up kind of visitor who never failed to grace the desk just as the legs were starting to get tired, telling you how fabulous their tour of the “Hoff Burk” had been. “I’m sorry, Hoff Burk?” Awkward silence. “Yes, you know that historical building in Vienna.” Hurrah, the Hofburg! “Oh yes, the Hoff Burk. Magnificent little piece of Austrian workmanship.”

So back in the office this week we trawl through the tons of brochures collected, work our way down contact lists and eat leftover Mozartkugeln to our heart’s content. And I think to myself – if somewhat cheesily after all of this global cheer – that we really do promote an incredible country and I am in fact happy to don that corporate jacket every once in a while.